Stove top assembly



May 16, 1950 J. M. COOK ErAL 2,507,660

sTovE To? .lxsslmamr4 Original Filed April 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Shee 1 l).f3 f a f ,XM f fl y if Il ll /W/a/way May 16, 1950 J, M. COOK ErAL2,507,660

STOVE T0? ASSEMBLY Original Filed April 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @MMXPatented May 16, 1950 STQVE TOP ASSEMBLY James M. Cook and Shirly C.Salter, Kalamazoo,

Mich., assignors to Kalamazoo Stove and Fur- .nace Company, Kalamazoo,Mich.

Original application April 5, 1945, Serial No.`

1946, Serial No. 674,283

9 Claims. (Cl. 126-214) This invention relates to improvements in stovetop assembly.

This application is a division of our co-pending application for LettersPatent, Serial No. 586,702, filed April 5, 1945, issued October 18,1949, No. 2,485,359.

T-he principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a top for a c'ook stove of a one-piece seamlesscharacter which will be more attractive and easier to keep clean thantops known heretofore.

Second, to provide a top assembly for a stove which may be attached byan unskilled workman, with two concealed bolts.

Third, to provide a. top for a cook stove which permits easy accesstothe burner adjustment and connections positioned below the top.

Objects -relating to the economies and details of the construction ofthe top will be apparent from a consideration of the followingdescription. The drawings, of which there are two sheets illustrate apreferred form and one modified form of the invention.

Fig. 1 represents a plan view partially broken away of the top asinstalled on a cook stove.

Fig. 2 represents an end elevational view of the top in partiallyassembled position on the stove.

Fig. 3 represents a front elevational view of the front frame member ofthe stove which supports the top member.

Fig. 4 represents an enlarged perspective view of the stove framestructure at the rear corner thereof arranged to cooperate with the top.

Fig. 5 represents a vertical cross sectional vie-w taken along the line5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 represents a vertical cross sectional view taken along the line6-6 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 represents an end elevational view of a modified form of stovetop.

Fig. 8 represents a plan View of the top illustrated in Fig. 7.

In the drawings the reference character I indicates a stove topconsisting of a top panel 2, a depending forward apron 3, and a raisedrear fence I. The top panel, front apron, and rear fence are formed witha continuous surface as one stamping and are provided with merging endflanges 5 and a top flange 6 along the top of the fence 4. A vent outlet1 is formed in the top flange 6. The top panel 2 defines a series ofburner apertures l8 which are disposed over the burner elements at 9 andarranged to receive burner bowls I0 supported upon the raised bosses II.The forward burner openings 8 are formed with extensions I2 on theirforward sides so that Divided and this application June 4,

when the burner bowls are removed, the mixing valves I3 for the burnersare readily accessible. The rear burner openings are formed withextensions I4 on the -rear sides thereof so that access may be hadtherethrough to the connection I5 between the fuel manifold I6 and fuelsupply pipe.

The end flanges 5 on the top panel are provided with inwardly turnedflanges I8 (see Fig. 5) and the front apron portion 3 is provided with abackwardly turned flange I9 (see Fig. 6) so that the top may be attachedto the body of the stove in a manner to be described presently.

The stove body to which the top is arranged to be attached includes thefront frame member 20, rear panel 2 I, and top cross members 22. Thefront frame member 20 is formed as a unitary stamping with end verticalmembers 23, a center vertical member 24 and a horizontal top portion 25defining a large horizontal slot 2'6 and two smaller slots 21therebelow. The large Slot 26 is provided with forwardly extendingflanges 28 at the top and bottom thereof and the top of the horizontalportion is formed with three upstanding ears 29 and two sloping portions30 defining bolt holes 3|. The top cross members 22 are flanged inwardlyas at 32 along the top edge thereof and are welded at their forward endsto the end uprights 23 of the front frame member and at the rear to theforwardly extending flange 33 of the rear panel 2|. It will benoted thatthe cross members 2l extend backwardly beyond the rear panel. Thev rearpanel is formed with upstanding ends 34 at each end thereof arranged tobe welded to the inturned flange 32 on the top cross members.

A burner chamber bottom panel 35 is provided with an upturned flange 38on the back edge which is welded to the back panel 2| and a downwardlyoffset edge 31 along its forward edge which is welded to the back of thefront frame member.

Burner support bars 38 have their forward ends supported on the top ofthe lower flange 28 of the front frame member and their rear endssupported on the burner chamber bottom panel near the rear panel 2I.Burners 39 are supported on the burner support members underneath theopenings 8 in the top panel and are provided with mixing valves I3Positioned underneath the forward extensions I2 in the forward burneropenings. The fuel manifold I6 is bent from the back of the burnerchamber and extends along the front of the stove and within thehorizontal slot 26 in the front frame chamber. Bolts 40 secure themanifold to the sloping portions 30 of the front frame member. Fuelvalves 4I are connected to the manifold for delivering fuel to themixing chambers 40 and control shafts 42 project forward therefrom forconnection with control knobs 43 on the forward apron section of the topmember.

Secured to the inturned flange 32 of the end cross members is a springclip 44 which is provided with a central portion 45 which extends acrossthe forwardly turned flange 34 on the rear panel. Each end of the centerportion 45 defines an aperture 46 and is turned downwardly into a lowerflange 41. The lower flanges 41 are welded to the top flange on the endcross member by means of welding electrodes which are passed throughapertures in the center portion 45. The end flanges 41 are further bentupwardly into the end clips 48 which are spaced upwardly at a higherlevel than the center portion 45 of the clip.

The center portion 45 of the clip is spaced above the top of the crossmember 22 and arranged to receive the inturned flange 49 of an outerdecorative end panel 50 while the end portions 48 of the'clip are spacedso as to receive the inturned flange I8 of the top member betweenthemselves and the center portion 45. The clips 44 thus slidably securethe top member to the body of the stove. The inturned flange I9 alongthe bottom of the apron portion 3 is arranged to'iit underneath thelower flange 28 of the horizontal opening in the front frame member. Twobolts are provided for securing the flange I9 to the flange 28, thuseiectively securing the top member to the stove while at the same timeleaving the top member readily demountable for separate packing andshipment or repair of the stove. Doors 52 are provided for the openingsin the front of the stove which effectively conceal the bolts 5| whenthe doors are in their normally closed position.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 theend flange 54 of the top portion is extended to the same width as thedepending apron portion 55 at the front of the top member. In employingthis form of the invention the cross members 22 and the clips 44 on thestove frame will be correspondingly lowered.

The top portion 56 is altered in that the burner apertures 51 arepositioned in pairs at each end of the stove rather than in a group of 4as in the preferred form of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated and described in a highly practicalcommercial embodiment thereof. No other adaptation has been shown as itis believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art toadapt the invention as may be desired.

We claim: 1. A stove or range comprising a frame unit having inturnedflanges at the top of the ends thereof, outwardly facing multi-leavedclips having lower leaves secured to the under sides of said flangesnear the back of said stove, end walls having inturned flanges at theupper edges thereof engaged between said flanges on said frame andintermediate leaves of said clips, and an integral top unit comprising atop surface portion, depending front and end portions of substantialwidth and a rear fence portion of substantial width, said dependingportions being provided with inturned flanges, the inturned flanges ofsaid end portions being engaged between said intermediate leaves and topleaves of said clips, said inturned flange on said front portion beingsecured to said frame by concealed fastenings.

2. A stove or range comprising end walls hav- 4 ing inturned flanges atthe top thereof, a top having downturned end portions with inturnedflanges at the lower edge thereof disposed in opposed relation to theflanges at the top of said end walls, and coupling members ofmulti-channel section telescopingly embracing said flanges on said endwalls and said top, said coupling members having intermediate portionsengaging the upper sides of said end wall flanges and the under sides ofthe top flanges, said intermediate portions defining apertures throughwhich a welding tool may be passed to weld the bottom of said couplingmembers to the frame of said range.

3. A stove or range comprising end walls having inturned flanges at thetop thereof, a top having downturned end members with inturned flangesat the lower edge thereof disposed in opposed relation to the flanges atthe top of said end walls, and multi-leaved coupling members formingparallel channels telescopingly embracing said flanges on said end wallsand said top with intermediate leaves of said coupling members locatedbetween said inturned flanges.

4. A stove or range comprising end walls having inturned flanges at thetop thereof, a top having an integral depending front portion and endportions having inwardly projecting flanges and an integral upstandingfence member at its rear edge, and multi-leaved coupling members formingvertically spaced channel sections adapted to slidably receive saidflanges on said end walls and on said end portions with intermediateleaves of said coupling members positioned between said flanges, saidintermediate leaves defining openings through which a. welding tool maybe passed to weld the lower leaves of said coupling members to framemembers of said stove, the top leaves of said coupling members beingdivided and located longitudinally at eac end of said intermediateleaves.

5. In combination with a stove body having a front frame member with ahorizontal flange extending outwardly therefrom, and an inwardly flangedend frame member, a top member formed as an integral stamping comprisinga front apron portion of substantial width, a top portion, a rear fenceportion of substantial height, merging end flanges formed on said apron,top, and fence portions, horizontal flanges turned inwardly from saidend flange on said top portion, and a flange directed inwardly from saidapron portion, said last mentioned flange being removably secured tosaid horizontal flange on said front frame portion and an outwardlyopening U-shaped clip secured to said end frame member and engaging saidinturned flange on the end of said top member, said clip havingoutwardly extending lower intermediate and upper leaves, said upper leafbeing divided and located longitudinally of said clip at each end ofsaid intermediate leaf, said inturned ange on said top portion beingpositioned between said upper and intermediate leaves.

6. In combination with a stove having end frame members with inturnedflanges on the tops thereof, a top member having inturned flanges on theends thereof, decorative end panels having inturned flanges on the topsthereof, integral U-shaped spring clips having bottom leaves welded tosaid flanges on said end members, second upwardly spaced leaves on saidclips for engaging said flanges on said end panels against said flangeson said end frame members, and third upwardly spaced leaves spacedhigher than said @scacco and panels comprising bottom leaves welded tosaid flanges on said end frame members, second upwardly spaced leaves onsaid clips for engaging said anges on said end panels between saidsecond leaves and said flanges on said end frame members, third upwardlyspaced leaves spaced higher than said second leaves for engaging saidflanges on said top member between said second and third leaves, saidsecond leaves dening apertures whereby a welding tool may be applied tosaid bottom leaves and said anges on said end members.

8. A clip for securing the intumed flanges on a top and end panel of astove to an inturned flange on the end frame member of a, stovecomprising, a stamping having lower, intermediate and upper outwardlyturned leaves connected by a web pcrtion, said leaves being vspacedvertically with respect to each other, said intermediate leaf deliningapertures through which a welding tool may be passed to weld the lowerleaf of said clip to the bottom of said flange on said end frame member,said upper leaf being divided and located longitudinally at each end ofsaid intermediate leaf.

9.Aclipforsecuringtheinturnediiangeson a top and end panel of a stove toan inturned flange on the end frame member of a stove comprising, astamping having lower, intermediate and upper outwardly turned leavesconnected by a, web portion, said vleaves being spaced vertically withrespect to each other, one of the upper of said leaves definingapertures through which a welding tool may be passed to weld the lowerleaf of said clip to said flange on said end frame member, one of theupper of said leaves being divided and located longitudinally at eachend of the other of the upper two of said leaves.

JAMES M. COOK SHIRLY C. SALTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,251,274 Patridis Dec. 25, 19172,107,972 Antrim et al Feb. 8, 1938 2,196,724 Esson Apr. 9, 19402,213,234 Tinnerman Sept. 3, 1940 2,295,378 Barnsteiner Sept. 8, 19422,295,915 Ring Sept. 15, 1942 2,328,757 Tinnerman Sept. 7, 19432,335,279 Hobson Nov. 30, 1943 2,357,025 Sandberg Aug. 29, 19442,364,950 Cook Dec. 12, 1944 2,418,152 Avery Apr. 1, 1947

